Every year, employers find themselves caught between an employee-health-coverage rock and a health-care-cost hard place. Making things even more difficult is the fact that the squeeze is getting tighter and tighter. If only there was a go-to guide for lowering company health care costs. Well, now there is. Read on.

Health care costs continue to climb

In 2015 PricewaterhouseCoopers reported that even though health care spending was expected to slow in 2016, it would still outpace overall economic inflation. And Kaiser Family Foundation states that from 2005 to 2015 the average annual cost for employee health insurance grew by 61 percent. In that same period, employer contributions increased by more than half.

What’s an employer to do?

A number of factors influence company health care costs, from worker hospitalization to ER usage, prescription drug prices to chronic disease management. Plan design and cost shares play a part. Plus, there’s your employees’ approach to their own health to consider.

Fortunately, there are certain actions companies can take to curb—if not reduce—their total cost of health care. If you’re asking yourself any of the questions below, then you should download our ultimate guide. It contains what every employer should know to lower their health care costs.

Am I paying too much for health care?

Most companies think that their total premium costs represent their health care spend. But there are hidden costs. Discover how to choose a health plan design that can positively impact employee absenteeism and worker productivity.

How can I maximize cost sharing with my employees?

Most employers approach health benefits as a necessary line item for attracting and retaining top talent. But the right plan can have benefits for companies, too. Learn options for cost sharing, funding, and even how one company saved 15 percent on their health care costs by switching to a different type of plan.

What’s the easiest thing I can do to save on company health care costs?

Gallup reveals that absenteeism related to chronic conditions—such as diabetes, obesity, and smoking—costs companies more than $153 billion per year in lost productivity. Discover how chronic disease management help companies realize substantial cost savings.

How can I help my employees bring down their cost of care—and mine?

Employees are going to get sick. And they’re going to need care. That’s just a cost of having a workforce. But your workers don’t have to get as sick, take as long to recover, or necessarily access the most expensive care. Find out how to influence the cost of care your workers receive.

Do wellness programs really work?

It only makes sense: the healthier your workers, the fewer sick days and the better their productivity. But some wellness programs work better than other. Discover what approaches work best.

Is there any way to reduce my health care costs once plans have been selected?

A true health care collaborator will do more than just work with you to design a plan to meet your needs. Learn how carriers can work with you to improve plan performance and employee engagement.